Of providence



(No Model.)

J. B. MAINES.

GAR COUPLING.

- Pat e nted Aug. 2, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. MAINES, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,110, dated August2, 1892.

Application filed March 16, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN B. MAINES, a citi Zen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Car- Conplings, of which the followingis aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and eflicientmeansforcouplingfreightcars without danger to the brakeman; and it consistsin the improved construction of the coupling for convenient and safeoperation, as hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the end portion of two coupledrailroad-cars. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section taken in the line2 2 of Fig. 1, showing a top view of the hook-bars. Fig. 3 represents apartial end view of a car, showing the coupling-link in its elevatedposition.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the body of the car, and Bthe hook-bar provided with the engaging notch or hook 0, adapted toreceive the coupling-link D of the opposite car. To the hook-bar B ispivoted the coupling-link D, provided at one side with a rigid arm Z),to the end a of which is jointed the connecting-link d, which is alsojointed to the operating-rod E, the said rod being made to passvertically through the guide-eyes e andfat the end of the car andterminating in the handle 9 for convenient manipulation. At the sideofthe rod E are placed the pins 2' i at suitable distances apart, which,when the brakeman moves the rodE back and forth in the elongatedguide-eye f, will catch'over the hook-restj at the top of the car andserve Serial No. 425,170. (No model.)

to lock the coupling-link D in its set position, as shown in Fig. 1,each of the pins 2' being used, according as the hook-bar B of theopposite car is in the same horizontal plane or higher or lower than thehook-bar to which the coupling is pivoted, and when the coupling-link Dis in engagement with the hookbar B of the opposite car thecoupling-link belonging thereto will be held in its raised po sition, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In coupling the cars the coupling-link D is held in its elevatedposition until the hookbars B of the cars touch each other. The brakemanthen raises the rod E upon one of the cars, which, through the action ofthe link (1 upon the arm I) of the coupling-link D, will cause the saidcoupling-link to be thrown over the hook c of the hook-bar B of theopposite car, and the said coupling-link will be held in its place bymeans of one of the pins 11, which will catch over the hook-restj andserve to hold the coupling-link in proper engagement with the hook c.The coupling of the cars can thus be effected from the roof of the carand with entire safety to the brakeman.

I claim as my invention In a car-coupling, the combination, with thehook-bar B, of the coupling-link D, provided with the arm I), theconnecting-link d, the operating-rod E, provided with the pins 11 i andthe handle g, the elongated guide-eye f, and the hook-rest 3, adapted toengage with the pins 1' 11, substantially as described.

JOHN B. MAINES.

Witnesses:

CHARLES HANNIGAN, SOCRATES SOHOLFIELD.

